Virtual World, Virtual Reference

Virtual World, Virtual Reference at the Second Life Library Reference Desk Lorin Fisher SL: Juana Manuel Information Literacy Coordinator Alkek Library Texas State University-San Marcos [email_address]

What is Second Life?
3-D virtual world, created by Linden Labs in 2003
462,262 residents logged in during past 7 days
Objects and environments in-world are created by residents
Economy with game currency Linden dollar exchangeable for US dollars
Education, business, and other organizations represented in-world
Separate Teen Grid for ages 13-17

A Quick Peek

Second Life Library and the Info Archipelago
Started in 2006, by Alliance Library System
40 Islands housing other libraries and associations
Info International language areas
Subject and branch Libraries
Separate library services on Teen Grid
Online resource collections
Reference Desk staffed by volunteers
Events, classes, and courses offered

Reference Service in a Virtual World

Like Apples and Oranges
7662 patrons, 4688 SL questions, 576 RL questions (2007 Statistics)
Average shift 2 hours per week
International patrons and staff
Communication via voice chat, text chat, IM
Heavy multi-tasking
Game specific information delivery tools
Good knowledge of game interface
Familiarity with traditional reference tools

Second Librarian Life
Group tags
Griefers
Babbler (translation program)
Group IM
Interest area sub-groups
Reference meetings & training
Info Island web pages
SL Librarian listserv
Networking and librarian social events

References
Second Life Library 2.0 Staff Worksite . 17 Apr 2008 <http://infoisland.org/drupal/>.
2006-2007 ALS Annual Report . Alliance Library System. 17 Apr 2008 <http://www.alliancelibrarysystem.com/annualreport07/message.pdf>.
Dejavu, Hypatia. “SLLVR Statistics.” 2007. 14 Apr 2008.
“ Second Life Economic Statistics.” Second Life . 17 Apr 2008 <http://secondlife.com/whatis/economy_stats.php>.
Second Life Library . 17 Apr 2008 <http://infoisland.org/>.
Second Life: Official site of the 3D online virtual world . 17 Apr 2008 <http://secondlife.com/>.

Selected Websites
Official Second Life website- - http://www.secondlife.com/
Teen Second Life (for Ages 13-17) http://teen.secondlife.com/
Second Life Library website- - http://infoisland.org/
Eye4You Alliance Blog -- http://eye4youalliance.youthtech.info/
Info Archipelago Directory of Libraries and Organizations -- http://infoisland.org/directory.php
Second Life Education Wiki http://www.simteach.com/wiki/index.php?title=Second_Life_Education_Wiki
Institutions and Organizations in Second Life http://www.simteach.com/wiki/index.php?title=Institutions_and_Organizations_in_SL
New Media Consortium Campus Observer http://sl.nmc.org/

Selected SLURLs
Info International Reference Desk http://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island%20International/128/128/0
Info Island http://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island/128/128/33
Cybrary City http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cybrary%20City/128/128/0
ALA Island http://slurl.com/secondlife/ALA%20Island/128/128/0
Caledon http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20VictoriaCity/134/123/24
San Jose State University SLIS http://slurl.com/secondlife/SJSU%20SLIS/128/128/0
Cleveland Public Library http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cleveland%20Public%20Library/128/128/0
Bobcat Village http://slurl.com/secondlife/Bobcat%20Village/128/128/0
Silent http://slurl.com/secondlife/Silent/128/128/0
International Spaceflight Museum http://slurl.com/secondlife/Spaceport%20Alpha/128/128/0

Thank you!

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Virtual World, Virtual Reference

by Lorin Flores

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